Prince Rahim designated Aga Khan V, the 50th leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims
Social Sharing
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's millions of Ismaili Muslims.
He was designated as the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, in his father's will. His father died Tuesday in Portugal.
The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state.
The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community announced earlier that Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, died surrounded by his family. It said his burial and will-reading will be held in the coming days, followed by an homage ceremony.
WATCH l Prince Karim Aga Khan IV's legacy remembered in Canada:
Remembering the Aga Khan's legacy and connection to Canada
15 hours ago
Duration 1:37
Many Ismaili Muslim Canadians gathered in Toronto to pay their respects to Prince Karim Aga Khan IV after his death. Part of his legacy was his deep connection to Canada, which was remembered by the prime minister.
The late Aga Khan was given the title of "His Highness" by Queen Elizabeth II in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather the Aga Khan III unexpectedly made him heir to the family's 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.
A defender of Islamic culture and values, he was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West.
The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organization, deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. The network says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion US for non-profit development activities.
Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia before also settling in East Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Australia more recently. They consider it a duty to tithe up to 12.5 per cent of their income to the Aga Khan as steward.
WATCH l Aga Khan 'an extraordinarily compassionate global leader,' Trudeau says:
Trudeau pays tribute to Aga Khan
20 hours ago
Duration 1:06
At a Lunar New Year event in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about finding out just minutes earlier that his 'very good friend' Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims around the world, had died. Trudeau called the Aga Khan 'an extraordinarily compassionate global leader, a man of vision, of faith and of incredible generosity.'
Aga Khan IV had four children. Rahim was born in October 1971 and is just over a year younger than his sister, Zahra. Hussain, another son, was born in 1974.
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CBC
05-02-2025
- CBC
Prince Rahim designated Aga Khan V, the 50th leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims
Social Sharing Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini was named Wednesday as the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the world's millions of Ismaili Muslims. He was designated as the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, in his father's will. His father died Tuesday in Portugal. The Aga Khan is considered by his followers to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and is treated as a head of state. The Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili religious community announced earlier that Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV and 49th hereditary imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, died surrounded by his family. It said his burial and will-reading will be held in the coming days, followed by an homage ceremony. WATCH l Prince Karim Aga Khan IV's legacy remembered in Canada: Remembering the Aga Khan's legacy and connection to Canada 15 hours ago Duration 1:37 Many Ismaili Muslim Canadians gathered in Toronto to pay their respects to Prince Karim Aga Khan IV after his death. Part of his legacy was his deep connection to Canada, which was remembered by the prime minister. The late Aga Khan was given the title of "His Highness" by Queen Elizabeth II in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather the Aga Khan III unexpectedly made him heir to the family's 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect. A defender of Islamic culture and values, he was widely regarded as a builder of bridges between Muslim societies and the West. The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organization, deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. The network says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion US for non-profit development activities. Ismailis lived for many generations in Iran, Syria and South Asia before also settling in East Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East, as well as Europe, North America and Australia more recently. They consider it a duty to tithe up to 12.5 per cent of their income to the Aga Khan as steward. WATCH l Aga Khan 'an extraordinarily compassionate global leader,' Trudeau says: Trudeau pays tribute to Aga Khan 20 hours ago Duration 1:06 At a Lunar New Year event in Ottawa, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about finding out just minutes earlier that his 'very good friend' Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims around the world, had died. Trudeau called the Aga Khan 'an extraordinarily compassionate global leader, a man of vision, of faith and of incredible generosity.' Aga Khan IV had four children. Rahim was born in October 1971 and is just over a year younger than his sister, Zahra. Hussain, another son, was born in 1974.
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Ismaili Muslims in B.C. mourn the Aga Khan after his death
Ismaili Muslims in B.C. were in mourning on Tuesday after the announcement of the death of their faith's spiritual leader, the Aga Khan. Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, who died at 88 in Lisbon according to his philanthropic organization, had been the leader of 15 million Ismailis across 35 countries since 1957. Ismailis hold that the Aga Khan was directly descended from an unbroken line of imams going back to the Prophet Muhammad. He was known for his generous philanthropy, helping build schools and hospitals and providing electricity for millions of people in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia. There were around 20,000 Ismaili Muslims in B.C. in 2022, according to the province, making up around a sixth of the province's total Muslim population. WATCH | Aga Khan dead at 88: Aga Khan dead at 88 6 hours ago Duration 3:33 'Ismaili Muslims in B.C. who spoke to CBC News said that the death of the Aga Khan represented a profound sense of loss and his achievements in the humanitarian and diplomatic world spoke volumes. The Aga Khan was named an honorary Canadian in 2009 for his strong ties and significant contributions to the country. "As an honorary Canadian, Canada reflected that appreciation for the work of His Highness," said Vancouver Granville MP Taleeb Noormohamed. "And I know that for the community, that reflection, that recognition, was something that's been very, very special." Noormohamed said that the Aga Khan's connection to Canada was particularly deep, as the Pierre Trudeau government had taken in thousands of Ismaili refugees who were abruptly expelled from Uganda in 1972. "It's been a profound sense of responsibility [that] the community has felt as a result of that," the Liberal MP said. "The relationship between the Ismaili community and Canada has been one that has allowed so many to settle successfully here," he added. The Aga Khan was most famous for his eponymous philanthropic arm, as well as for setting up the Global Centre for Pluralism and working on international development projects across the world. "His Highness has always thought of himself, and he said this in a speech he gave to the joint Houses of Parliament, that his role as an imam is to provide both spiritual guidance and leadership to his community, but also to the broader communities amongst whom we live," said Shaherzade Hirji, the spokesperson for the Ismaili Council of Canada. "All of these initiatives, whether they're educational, whether they are health care, whether they are cultural, really impact members of the community more broadly as well." The Aga Khan Development Network said a designated successor to the Aga Khan will be announced in the coming days. "For Ismailis, that kind of continuity is critically important," Noormohamed said. "Because ultimately, while the physical form of the imam changes, there is the sense that ... it is something that transcends the physical, and that spiritual connection is one that is most important."
